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The Cellular Basis of Impaired T Lymphocyte Functions in the Elderly
Author(s) -
Abe Tohru,
Morimoto Chikao,
Toguchi Takashi,
Kiyotaki Masaya,
Homma Mitsuo
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1980.tb00532.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pokeweed mitogen , concanavalin a , lymphocyte , ageing , antibody , immunology , in vitro , biology , biochemistry
Immunologic changes associated with aging were studied by various immunologic tests in 24 aged persons (age range, 76–83) and 25 young persons (age range, 20–40). The responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) were depressed in the aged subjects compared to the young ones (p < 0.05), whereas the responses to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were similar. The activity of adherent and non‐adherent cells was assessed in various combinations. The adherent cells of aged persons were indistinguishable from those of young persons in their ability to response to Con A. Lymphocytes from the aged synthesized larger in vitro amounts of immunoglobulin than did lymphocytes from the young, when stimulated with PWM. Con A‐stimulated T lymphocytes derived from aged subjects showed a variable loss of suppressor activity. The mixed lymphocyte culture reaction with mitomycin‐treated allogeneic and autologous cells was also impaired in aged subjects. Such an impaired response in the aged is related to higher incidences of malignant lesions and auto‐antibodies.